Expanding mouth filter for suction cleaning devices



Oct. 14, 1952 u. A. WHITAKER EXPANDING MOUTH FILTER FOR SUCTION CLEANING DEVICES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 22 1951 INVENTOR. Uncas A. Whitaker ATTORNEY.

Qct. 14, 1952 q, VA'WHITAKER EXPANDING MOUTH FILTER FOR SUCTION CLEANING DEVICES I Filed June 22 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 'Uncas Apwhituker ATTORNEY.

Oct. 14, 1952 wH 2,613,760

EXPANDING MOUTH FILTER FOR SUCTION CLEANING DEVICES Filed June 22, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. Uncas A. Whitaker ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 14,' 1952 'EXP ANDING'MOUTH FILTER FOR SUCTION CLEANING DEVICES UncasA. Whitaker, Harrisburg; Pa., assignor to The Hoover Company, North Canton,'Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application June 22, 1951 Serial No. 233,020

My present invention relates to the art of suction cleaning devices and in particular to filtering devices for such cleaners. l I .fFloor supported and handle propelled sue-'- tion .cleaners are customarily provided with a filter which'extends from the cleaner exhaust outlet on the cleaner body outwardly and rearwardly of the propelling handle and has its upper end rresilientlylsupport ed by the propelling handle :adjacent the hand grip thereof. After a period of :use, suchfilters become dirt filled and must be emptied. i It is customary emptying procedure to remove the bag from the exhaust outlet .of the cleaner and then to empty the same 7 through a large closable opening at the upper end of the filter bag. This. construction necessitates .a bag which is open at each end, is provided with closing meansfor the widemouth thereof at the upper end and a means of securing the same to the cleaner exhaust outlet at the lower end. It is not generallyfeasible to empty 10 Claims. (Cl."183-.51)

the filter'through the inlet mouth thereof which must conform to the necessarily restricted exh'aust port of the cleaner.

- :Itis .a particular object of my invention-to provide-afilter bag for suction cleaners having a permanently closed upper end and a lower. end openable to the full diameter of the bag and readilyclosable to forma small diameter mouth engageablegwith a convention exhaust port on a suction r cleaner.

[The present invention provides a filter for a suction cleaner having a permanently closed upper end-and a lower end which is openable to the maximum extent provided by the bag material and readily closable to form an inlet which may be applied to the exhaust port of a conventional suction cleaner. The inlet mouth of the bag is'providedwith a frame structure which serves to seal the inlet mouth of the bag to the suction cleaner exhaust port, to secure the filter described hereinafter.

filter is permanently closed as by stitching and bagto the exhaust port mechanically, and to avoid excessive gathering ofthe materialof the bag to reduce the same tothe size of the cleaner exhaust port. The filter isfolded on itself at points which will not engage the cleaner exhaust port'but which do reduce the "circumference of the bagjmouth toa small-value sufficient to fit upon the cleaner exhaust port; The same ,means areutiliz'ed to. clamp the foldablemouth structurelof the filter "in folded position 'and' to secure and seal the same to thecleaner exhaust port. My present construction providesameans for gathering the bag to make the same fit the conventionalsmall size exhaust port of aflsuction cleaner without necking inthe bag at'this point to form a restricted lower end character+ ized by the provision of a large number of un- I sightly, .di-rt trapping pleats which also reduce the dirt storage capacity and filtering area -of the filter. l 1 Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the descriptionproceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: c

Figure 1 is a side elevational view tion cleaning device having a part thereof broken away and shown in section on an enlarged'scale toillustrate a filter mounting and exhaust-port; Figure 2 is a bottom view of the filter attached to the exhaust portvof a suction cleaner; Figure 3 is a perspective .endview of a filter .for suction cleaners in partly folded condition;

J Figure 41s a perspective view of .a filter mouth frame shown in expanded condition; and Figure 5 is a partial bottom viewrof the filter frame in folded condition. 1 v q Referring now tothe drawingsin detail and first to Figure 1 thereof, there is illustrated a suction cleaner indicated generally by the refer-- 8' formed between the spaced flanges 9 and" i0 projecting outwardly from the exterior surface of the exhaust duct 6. A filter II is secured to the exhaust duct 6 in the seat 8-in a manner to be The upper end of; the

is secured to a plate l2 to which is attached a supporting spring l3 secured at its upper end to a hook I4 carried by the upper end of the propelling handle 4. v

y The filter l I is preferably constructed of textile material of a fine mesh suitable for filtering fine dirt from the dirt laden air stream discharged from the cleaner through the exhaust duct 6'; I'he lower end of the filter H is telescoped over a folding mouth frame indicated generally by the reference character [7. The material of the filter is then folded inwardly around the frame l1 and stitched to itself as at I 8 to form a hem encasing I the folding frame ll.

of a succomposed of a pair of identical opposed members 20-20a positioned in face-to-face relation and joined at their ends by folding hinge structures ZI-Zla respectively. The principal members 20 and 20a are identical and only the member 20 will be described in detail; corresponding reference characters are applied to corresponding portions of the member 20a distinguished by the addition of the subscript a. The principal member 20 comprises a half-round collar section 22 having parallel projectin flanges 23 extending a short distance beyond the ends thereof. Each flange 23 is joined to a parallel side arm portion 24 by means of a step'section25which positions the arms 24 away from the flanges 23 in the direction of the bight portion of the collar 22. The arms 24 are aligned witheach other and parallel to the aligned flanges 23. I h

The folding hinge structures 21 each connect a corresponding pair of opposed side arms 24-24a. Since the hinges 2l-2la are identical with each other, only the hinge 2| will be described and .corresponding reference characters are applied to corresponding parts of the folding hinge 2m distinguished by the addition of the subscript a. The hinge structure 2| comprises ahinge leaf'2fl hingedly joined to the end of the arm '24by a hinge pin'28. The other end. of the hinge leaf 2! is joined to a hinge leaf 29 by means of a hinge pin 30. The hinge leaf 29 is then hingedlyconnectedto the side arm 24a by a hinge pins: v v v v Figure 4 illustrates'the'frame structure in its maximum open position. The frame structure assumes the position illustrated in Figure 5 when folded by moving the hinges SO-30a inwardly towards each otherfi' Only one end of thefolded frame structure is shown in Figure 5, it being understood that the opposite end assumes an identical relationship and that the. collars 22-22a are brought together as shown in Figure 5 to form a substantially continuous band. As shown in Figure 5, the hinge leaves 21 and 29 fold into juxtaposed parallel relationship to bring the-hinges 28 and 3 i adjacent each otherand to position the] hinge 39 "in the space provide'd'between the step sections 25-25a of the principal side members. It'is apparent from this figure also that the flanges 23-2341, abut in juxtaposed relationship between the hinge 30 and the adjacent ends of the collars 22-2211.

dition of the apparatus. The flanges 23-2341 are also brought into juxtaposed relation to cause the fabric to form a seal therebetween. The spaces between the above mentioned elements illustrated in Figure 5 are proportioned to accommodate slightly less than two layers offabric so that the strips of filter fabric extending around facing portions of the frame ll-arepressed together in the folded condition of that frame. When the apparatus is in the folded condition illustrated in Figures 2 and 5, the U -shaped spring 7 clips 33 are swung down to the full line position illustrated in Figure 2 whereby they engage over the outer faces of the arms 24 and 24a forcing the same firmly towards each other vand into engagement with the hinge leaves 2! and 29 which are also forced together to seal the fabric. This action also brings the flanges 23-2311 together to cause the fabric thereon to press together to form a seal at this point. v

The collar portions 22-2201, of the frame are sized to fit snugly in the channel 8 between :tlfe flanges 9 and It. When the filter mouthis folded, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 5;.and brought into engagement with the channel 8, the spring clip 33 firmly presses the folded portions of the filter frame into engagement with each otherand tension the collar sections 22-2 2a against-the inner surface of'the channel 8 to form an air seal atthis point. The spring clip forms 'an air seal between the folded portions of the mouth frame structure, an air seal between the collars 22-2211 and the channel 8, and, mechanically anchors the filter-t0 the: cleaner exhaust port. 'I'his'arrange ment dispenses with clamps or other structures formed on' the cleaner body proper and incorpo rates these functions into parts of the filter which also serve to clamp such sections of the filter into a predetermined assembled relationship.

- The present frame construction provides a device Which'folds readily into a size to fit a normal cleaner exhaust port but which is openableto provide an'extremely wide mouth for the cleaner bag to facilitate emptying the same'of accum11 lated' dirt By folding portions ofthe bag into laterally extending sidewings with respecttothe cleaner exhaust port, excessive necking in-of the filter at the bottom portion thereof is completelyavoided and a pleasing appearance is provided by thelongitudinally extending side folds or pleats formed in the bag and running from thehin'ge 1 Figure 3 illustratesthe mouth portion of the completed filter structure in partially folded condition. The frame is enclosed in the. hem l3 in the construction of Figure 3 and is invisible; however, portions of the filter mouth in Figure 3 are designated by reference characters applied to corresponding'portions of Figure 2 in order to identify the relationship and position of the frame structure in the completed filter.

A U-s'haped spring clip 33 is pivotally attached to each arm 24a by means of a rivet 34 after assembly of the frame I! withthe filter H. The mounting of the spring clips 33 is such that they are freely pivotal from the released position illustrated in Figure 3, and in dotted lines in Figure 2, to the clamping position illustrated in full lines in Figure 2.

It is apparent, from Figures} and 5, that the fabric surrounding thelframe I7 is brought into juxtaposed relation to form seals between the members 24 and 21, 21 and 29, and 29 and 24a. Similarly, the fabric forms seals by being pressed between the hinge 30 and the facing shoulder portions 25-2511 in the completely folded conleaf sections 21 and 29, and ZIa'and 29a. "This arrangement provides a large dirt pocket at the bottom portion of the filter structure within which accumulated dirt may gather without blockingthe exhaust port for the cleaner or otherwise interfering with. the sufliciency of the filter as such- This action may be facilitated by tailoring the fabric of the filter to form a pocket as indicated at 33in Figure '1. This arrangement provides the filter with a very largedirt capacity in a manner which willnot tendto clog the cleaner exhaust outlet or to reduce significantlythe eifective; filtering area available to thestructure. f

Theabove described. construction has been found to provide a filter structure characterized by great ease of emptying the same due to the large emptying mouth provided by the frame structure. which folds readily to define a small size inlet mouth which will fit thesmall size exhaust port customarily provided on suction cleaner body structures. ,7 v Y I claim: I t 1. A. filter forsuction cleanerscomprising a tubular body. of filter materialhaving a permanently closed end and an open end, a foldable frame secured to the open-end of said filter comprising a pair of opposed principal members each having inlet mouth forming portions provided with projecting side arms, foldable members connecting the ends of corresponding side arms and foldable between said side arms outwardly of said mouth forming portions to bring said mouth form-.

having an exhaust duct terminating in an exhaust port, means forming a channel around said duct adjacent said exhaust port, a tubular filter member having an open end and a permanently closed end, a mouth frame secured to the open end of said filter member and composed of a pair of opposed principal members lying in said channel and each embracing one-half the circumference of said duct, side arms projecting laterally from the ends of each of said principal members, folding hinge members each hingedly connected to the ends of a corresponding pair of said side arms and folded inwardly therebetween, and

. clamping means carried by one side arm of each of said corresponding pairs engaging the other side arm to clamp said side arms and the hinge members therebetween in air tight relation and to clamp said principal members in said channel.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which said side arms have base portions directly joined to said principal members with the base portions of corresponding side arms in abutting relation and projecting portions offset from said base portions to provide space to receive said folding hinge members outwardly of said principal members. i

5. A filter comprising a tubular body of filter material having an open end and a closed end, a mouth frame secured in the open end of said tubular'body comprising a pair of opposed principal members, each of saidprincipal members comprising a flat strip having a pair of abutment surfaces offset from the plane of said strip and lying in a, common plane, saidabutment surfaces being spaced from the ends of said' strip and each other, and a central collar portion connecting the adjacent ends of said abutment surfaces and extending across the plane of said strip in a direction opposite to the direction in which said abutment surfaces are offset from, said strip, a pair of foldable hinge members each having itsends hingedly joined to corresponding ends of said principal members, said hinge members being foldable between said principal members with their inwardly projecting ends lying outside saidcollar portions and adjacent said abutment surfaces to bring said abutment surfaces into engagement to form an inlet mouth defined by said collar portions.

the direction of the opposed flat strip member to provide abutments engageable to space the cor- I responding end portions of said flat strip members to accommodate said foldable members in their folded condition. I

8. A filter for suction cleaners comprising a tubular body of filter material closed at one end and having an open end, a frame secured to said tubular body in the open end thereof, said frame comprising a pair of opposed principal members each having flat coplaner end portions joined to 1 a central collar portion offset from the plane of the end portions in a direction away from the opposed principal member adapted to form an inlet mouth to said tubular body when said principal members are brought together, a, pair of opposed foldable members, means hingedly join-- ing the ends of each of said foldable members to corresponding ends of said principal member to close said frame, said foldable members each being foldable between the'end portions of said principal members to which they are attached outwardly of said collars.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 in which said principal members each includes a pair of sections at the junctions of said collars and said end portions offset in the direction of the opposed principal member forming abutments spacing said end portions to accommodate saidfoldable members and sealing the infolded ends of said foldable members when said abutments are engaged with each other.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8 including U-shaped clamping members movably carried by said frame and engageable about each pair of end portions and the infolded foldable member I to secure said frame in folded condition.

UNCAS A. WHITAKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: q

UNITED STATES PATENTS Numberv Bender Nov. 10, 1936 

